Ulysses
S. Grant Home

On August 18, 1865, Galena celebrated the
return of its Civil War hero General Ulysses S. Grant. Following a jubilant procession
with much flag waving and speeches, a group of Galena citizens presented the General with
a handsome furnished house on Bouthillier Street. The house is managed by the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency as the U.S. Grant Home State Historic Site.

Grant in Galena

Grant and
his family arrived in Galena in the spring of 1860 and rented a small Federal style brick
house (seen at the right). He had ended a fifteen year military career six years earlier,
but had enjoyed little business success as a civilian. He hoped to reverse his economic
misfortune by moving to northwestern Illinois, where he would work in the Galena store
owned by his father and managed by his younger brothers, Simpson and Orvil. Grant was a
clerk in name only; he spent considerable time away from the store, "travelling
through the Northwest considerably during the winter of 1860-61. They had customers in all
the little towns in south-west Wisconsin, south-east Minnesota, and northeast. Iowa." Until he left Galena in the spring of 1861 to
serve in the Civil War, Grant and his wife, Julia, rented a modest brick home on the west
side of the river for approximately $100.00 a
year. .

The Hero's Homecoming

In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War,
Grant left Galena to join the U.S. Army, ending a seven-year hiatus from the military. He
was commissioned colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was promoted
to progressively significant commands of Union forces. A strong and capable leader, Grant
engineered the Union victory at Vicksburg in 1863, which helped turn the tide of the war.
In March 1864 Grant was appointed lieutenant general and commanded the Union army to war's
end. On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Grant
at Appomattox Court House, and Grant's image as a war hero was complete.

Grant family, ca.1865

On August 18, 1865, the citizens of Galena
greeted the return of its victorious General with a grand celebration. A "grand
triumphal arch" spanned Main Street, and a holiday atmosphere prevailed with a
jubilant procession, speeches, and evening fireworks. Julia Grant recalled that
"there was a tremendous and enthusiastic outpouring of people to welcome him . . .
After a glorious triumphal ride around the hills and valleys, so brilliant with smiles and
flowers, we were conducted to a lovely villa exquisitely furnished with everything good
taste could desire."

The Grant Home

The brick house, which was designed by William
Dennison, had been constructed in 1860 for former City Clerk Alexander J. Jackson. Thomas
B. Hughlett, on behalf of only a small group of local Republicans, purchased the house for
$2,500 in June 1865 and presented it to Grant two months later. The house is typical of
the Italianate style, which is characterized by well defined rectilinear shapes,
projecting eaves supported by brackets, low pitched roof, and balustraded balconies over
covered porches.

Following his election as president in 1868 he
visited only occasionally. In 1873 Grant commented that "although it is probable I
will never live much time among you, but in the future be only a visitor as I am at
present, . . . I hope to retain my residence here . . . I expect to cast my vote here
always." The house was maintained by caretakers in anticipation of the President's
visits, the local newspaper reporting that it was "in excellent order and ready for
occupation at any time," adding that "visitors are always admitted."

Grant made his final visits to his Galena home
in 1880. At that time he found that several changes had been made - "a new sidewalk
laid in front of the premises, the outbuildings repaired, the trees handsomely trimmed, a
new and commodious wash house built and other improvements made."

State Acquisition and Restoration

In 1904 Grant's children gave the house to the
City of Galena "with the understanding that this property is to be kept as a memorial
to the late General Ulysses S. Grant, and for no other purpose." However, maintaining
the Grant's home proved too costly for the city and the Grant Home Association, so in 1931
the city deeded the house to the State of Illinois

A thorough restoration project was undertaken
in 1955. Considerable research was undertaken as the house was returned to its 1868
appearance. Fortunately, much of the furniture used by Grant and his family remained in
the house. Restoration of the home was returned to its appearance as pictured in the
November 14, 1868, issue ofFrank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.

Ulysses S. Grant Chronology

April 27, 1822: Hiram Ulysses
Grant born at Point Pleasant, Ohio and was the son of Jesse and Hannah Grant.Ulysses was the oldest of six children having
three sisters and two brothers.

May 29, 1839: Arrived at the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. A mistake in the records changed Grant's name to
Ulysses S. Grant, which he carried the rest of his life.